Apparel Challenge Lives Up To Hype
MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY - The 2nd annual Apparel Challenge at Christ the King Regional HS answered a few questions on Saturday. We now know that the Nike teams beat Under Armour with its teams winning four out of the five games in a packed Christ the King Regional HS gym. We also saw some of the top teams in New York lose their veneer.
L.I. Lutheran Splatters Benjamin Cardozo, 96-60
It would be a much anticipated contest with LuHi, the #1 ranked team in Long Island facing off against Cardozo, the #1 ranked public school team according to NYCHoops.net. No one could have imagined how it all played out.
Shooting an unbelievable 72% in the first half, the Crusaders would continuously and relentlessly build on an eight point first quarter lead, climaxing in what would end up being a good ole fashion butt whuppin’. The plan was simple according to Devonte Green ’16 (23 points). “Defense and stopping [Cardozo] in transition,” said the Indiana-bound guard.
In the opening quarter, Chris Coalmon ‘17 (13 points) got the ball rolling for LuHi as he slashed to the rim. Tareq Coburn ’16 (17 points) and Aaron Walker ‘16 (11 points) countered early on for Cardozo, draining three-balls to take a four point lead but midway through the quarter, Green began to activate as did teammate Charles Manning ‘16 (24 points) from the perimeter. The Crusaders paced by Donatas Kupsas ‘18 (10 points) also began to dominate the boards and soon the Long Island school regained the lead. The Judges would never ever see it again.
Lutheran’s ball pressure on Dozo began to yield premature foul trouble for its primary guards. Offensively, Green and Manning would combine for a scorching 36 first half points and the Judges found themselves heading to the locker room at the half in a gaping 52-24 crevice.
The Crusaders were defensively stifling on the Judges, especially at the point guard slot. 5’11” junior Brandon Jacobs ‘17 held his counterpart Rashond Salnave ‘16 (11 points) in check, limiting the Monmouth-bound senior PG to only four field goals while causing him to commit two offensive fouls as he struggled to contribute. Salnave eventually fouled out in the third quarter.
In a game that devolved in to a lay-up line and dunk drill, LuHi increased its point spread to 28 point as the final quarter began. The Crusaders advantage ballooned to 40 points with 6 minutes left in regulation. Luhi head Coach John Buck would initiate his own version of the mercy rule and subbed out his starters. Soon after a dejected Coach Ron Naclerio followed suit.
Asked if he expected this outcome, Green had a simple response. “Yes.”
Cardozo will most likely face LuHi again en route to the upcoming Federation championship
Jefferson Clips Christ the King In Final Seconds, 68-65
Everyone expected this game to be a barnburner as Christ the King hosted Thomas Jefferson and it did not disappoint. A slug fest from the tip-off both teams landed blows and counterpunches. The Royals played a solid game but turned into liquid in the last 9 seconds.
With the game tied at 65, Christ the King had possession on the inbound pass but for some reason, the Royals had a brain freeze. On their first attempt at the inbound by point guard Jose Alvarado ‘17, the pass was pilfered by Curtis Smith ‘16. Forced to foul, the Royals put the senior guard on the foul line. Fortunately, Smith would only go one of two from the charity strip.
4.1 seconds remained and even though Christ the King was now down by a point Alvarado had a second bite at the inbound apple. This time, Shamorie Ponds ‘16 would snatch away the pass. Again forced to foul, the Royals put the St. John’s bound guard on the line this time where he promptly hit both free-throws.
“That’s how you lose basketball games,” said Royals Head Coach Joe Arbitello. ”We didn’t execute down the stretch.”
Arbitello said that they drew up a specific play for the first inbounds but the team failed in the nuances. “Tyrone Cohen ‘16 let [Smith] step up in front of him a little bit and they came up with the steal.”
Coach Lawrence “Bud” Pollard from Jefferson saw things conversely. “We followed the defensive strategy to a tee for the last four minutes. They didn’t listen all game but they listed in the end.”
Ponds led the way for the Jefferson Orange Wave with 29 points with big Malachi Faison ‘17 adding 13 points and double digit rebounds. Cohen and Tracey Cleckley ‘16 paced the Royals with 16 points apiece with Alvarado adding 13 points.
In Other Action:
Imhotep (PA) Holds Off Cardinal Hayes, 59-52
Imhotep leaped out to an 11-2 lead towards the end of the opening quarter but Hayes launched an 8-2 run to close the game to three point to start the second quarter. Led by Robert Morris-bound point guard Clive Allen ‘16, the Cardinals knotted the game at 24 at the midway point
The Imhotep Panthers controlled the second half of the game as Jaekwon Carlyle 16, Koby Thomas ‘17 and Daron Russell ‘17 began to run the show. Down by four points at the start of the final quarter, their deficit increased to 14 points with 1:30 left to play as Hayes could not overcome the bigger stronger Imhotep.
Carlyle was the high man for the Panthers with 22 points. Allen scored a game high 24 points.
Boys & Girls Hands Loughlin 3rd Straight Loss, 47-45
The Boys & Girls Kangaroos controlled the tempo and flow for most of this competition. The tone was set in the first quarter as firepower from Najee Scott '16 and Gianni Ford '16 help put the Ross ahead by 11 points.
The Lions launched somewhat of a comeback as Markquis Nowell ’18 and Jordan Thomas ‘17 scored with Jeremy Betjol ‘16 handling the paint. Loughlin closed the gap to 30-26 at the half.
Ford raised his game in the third quarter which pushed Boys & Girls back up by ten points to start the fourth. In desperation mode, Loughlin did manage to shave their deficit to one point with 49 seconds left to play but last second heroics by Jamir Cheek ‘16 on the offensive boards off a miss by Nehemiah Boone ‘16 help secure the win.
Ford led the way for Boys & Girls with 20 points with Scott adding 8 points. Thomas scored 11 points for Loughlin with Keith Williams ‘17 and Nowell adding 8 points each.
